back formation

back for·ma·tion

B b

Definitions of back formation words

noun back formation the invention of a new word on the assumption that a familiar word is derived from it. The verbs edit and burgle were so created from editor and burglar 3
noun back formation a word formed by this process 3
noun back formation a word actually formed from, but seeming to be the base of, another word (Ex.: burgle from burglar) 3
noun back formation the process of forming such a word 3
noun back formation the analogical creation of one word from another word that appears to be a derived or inflected form of the first by dropping the apparent affix or by modification. 1
noun back formation a word so formed, as typewrite from typewriter. 1

before 1885

One of the 21% newest English words

First recorded in 1885-90

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 5% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.

According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

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